Iranian state media reports that the country’s parliament has endorsed the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil transit point. The parliament alone does not have the authority to close the strait, with that power lying with the regime's security officials and ultimately Ayatollah Khomeini. 

Global oil prices would likely increase dramatically if the strait is closed, according to Axios. The channel, located between Iran and Oman, is the chokepoint for an estimated 25 percent of the world’s seaborne oil trade and roughly one-fifth of all oil trade. 

"The Parliament has reached the conclusion that the Strait of Hormuz should be closed, but the final decision in this regard lies with the Supreme National Security Council," Revolutionary Guards Commander Ismail Kowsari said on Sunday, according to the Jerusalem Post and Newsweek.

The decision comes after Saturday’s strike on three key nuclear sites by the United States.

Closing the straight, though, could result in further military action by the US, according to analysts at the Eurasia Group.

"The US has amassed a massive military presence in the Gulf and surrounding region, and a move by Iran against the strait would almost certainly trigger a significant military response," they wrote in a statement released on Sunday morning.

Senior analyst Gregory Brew told Axios that "a move to close Hormuz would be an effective declaration of war against the Gulf states and the US" and that "Iran in its weakened state is unlikely to seek escalation of that kind at this time."

JD Vance, speaking to Meet the Press on Sunday morning, said that a closure of the channel would be a “suicidal” move by the Iranians.

"Their entire economy runs through the Strait of Hormuz. If they want to destroy their own economy and cause disruptions in the world, I think that would be their decision," the vice president said.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine took questions Sunday morning, following Saturday night's strike on Iran. When asked whether regime change was a goal, Hegseth clarified that it was not. “The president authorized a precision operation to neutralize the threats to our national interests posed by the Iranian nuclear program and the collective self-defense of our troops and our ally Israel,” he said.

Hegseth noted that Trump had initially pursued diplomacy with Iran, offering multiple opportunities to negotiate and abandon nuclear enrichment. However, after prolonged resistance and lack of cooperation from Tehran, the president determined that military action was necessary to address the growing threat.

Reporters raised concerns about potential retaliation, including the possibility of coordinated action by Iran, North Korea, and China. Hegseth noted that previous US policies had contributed to closer ties among these adversaries, complicating the strategic landscape. Despite that, he reaffirmed that the operation’s focus remained squarely on Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

Hegseth also stressed that the mission was not intended to be an open-ended conflict. "The most powerful military in the world is postured and prepared to defend our people," he said.